1Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To keep writing the same things to you is not troublesome for me—but for you it is a safeguard.

2Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the mutilation.

3For it is we who are the circumcision, who worship by the Ruach Elohim and glory in Messiah Yeshua and have not depended on the flesh—

4though I myself might have confidence in the flesh also. If anyone else thinks he might depend on the flesh, I far more—

5circumcised the eighth day; of the nation of Israel; from the tribe of Benjamin; a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the Torah, a Pharisee;

6as for zeal, persecuting Messiah’s community; as for Torah righteousness, found blameless.

7But whatever things were gain to me, these I have considered as loss for the sake of the Messiah.

8More than that, I consider all things to be loss in comparison to the surpassing value of the knowledge of Messiah Yeshua my Lord. Because of Him I have suffered the loss of all things; and I consider them garbage in order that I might gain Messiah

9and be found in Him not having my righteousness derived from Torah, but one that is through trusting in Messiah—the righteousness from God based on trust.

10My aim is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the sharing of His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death—

11if somehow I might arrive at the resurrection from among the dead.

Pursuing the Goal

12Not that I have already obtained this or been perfected, but I press on if only I might take hold of that for which Messiah Yeshua took hold of me.

13Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself as having taken hold of this. But this one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead,

14I press on toward the goal for the reward of the upward calling of God in Messiah Yeshua.

15Therefore let all who are mature have this attitude; and if you have a different attitude in anything, this also God will reveal to you.

16Nevertheless, let us live up to the same standard we have attained.

17Brothers and sisters, join in following my example and notice those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. (

18For many walk who are enemies of the cross of Messiah—I have often told you about them, and now I am even weeping as I tell you.

19Their end is destruction—their god is their belly and their glory is in their shame. They set their minds on earthly things.)

20For our citizenship is in heaven, and from there we eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Yeshua the Messiah.

21He will transform this humble body of ours into the likeness of His glorious body, through the power that enables Him even to put all things in subjection to Himself.